PARIS: Euro 2020, which has been delayed since last year, will open its curtains tonight, even as the threat of a COVID-19 pandemic remains rampant.

The opening action will take place early tomorrow morning at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome where the Italian hosts will take on Turkey in front of 16,000 spectators.

Spain’s preparations for the tournament, which will take place a month in several locations in continental Europe, were affected after two of its players, Sergio Busquets and Diego Llorente tested positive for COVID-19, but yesterday’s test results saw Llorente negative.

Spain also had to be prepared with a second squad lined up of 17 players as an alternative if the official squad of 26 players was infected with COVID-19.

While captain Busquets is still positive, Llorente’s negative result eased concerns over the risk of Spain having to play without his preferred starting line -up against Sweden in Seville on Monday.

Two Swedish players – striker Dejan Kulusevski and midfielder Mattias Svanberg – also tested positive for the virus and six substitutes were ordered ready.